Brent Venables Offers Thoughts On Controversial Penalty This Season

The Red River Rivalry between the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners will be an SEC game for the first time in 2024. Brent Venables led the Sooners to a 10-win season in 2023 and an appearance in the Alamo Bowl.

While Oklahoma and its past success are good signs for the Venables era, there was something more pressing on Tuesday at SEC media days. A reporter asked the Oklahoma head coach about his take on the potential "Horns Down" celebration penalty.

Venables noted that football is a high-octane game, and players will choose to celebrate in different ways. He is willing to cooperate regardless of what the SEC decides on the penalty.

"...I don't really have an opinion. Football is a game of emotion, intensity, and passion. If they say that's gonna be a penalty, then don't do it," Venables said. "If they say it's a free-for-all, then have at it. So, everybody's different. Everybody celebrates differently. Whatever rules they have in place, we'll follow."

Oklahoma fans had their fun with the "Horns Down" celebration last season after beating Texas in the Red River Rivalry. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel threw a go-ahead touchdown pass to Nic Anderson with 15 seconds left in the game. The Sooners won that meeting 34-31.

The SEC is no stranger to calling penalties aimed at opposing teams. During the 2019 Egg Bowl, an Ole Miss Rebels player mocked the Mississippi State Bulldogs by pretending to urinate like a dog following a touchdown with four seconds left.

An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty moved the extra-point attempt back 15 yards. The Rebels missed the extra point, giving the Bulldogs the victory.

It will be interesting to see what Steve Sarkisian thinks of the potential penalty. Sarkisian speaks on Wednesday at SEC media days.

Texas and Oklahoma play each other this season on Oct. 12.

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